Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979) – Film Review

Directors: Allan Arkush, Joe Dante (uncredited)
Cast: PJ Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

There really was no stopping Roger Corman in the 1970s. He might have all but given up on directing, but he was still churning out movies by the bucketload via his New World Pictures production and distribution company.

He doesn’t seem to have been interested in artistry, but instead by making as much money as possible from low-budget flicks he could sell to drive-in theatres or as second features in bigger cinema chains.

“Anarchic”

When you hear or read about this period, it often sounds as if any recent film graduate could turn up at his office and land a job, as long as they promised to do whatever he needed quickly and cheaply.

Among those who seemingly did just that was Allan Arkush, who’d been taught by another Corman alumnus, Martin Scorsese, while studying at New York University Film School in the late 1960s.

Arkush was also a huge music fan who’d been employed at the legendary Manhattan venue Fillmore East and had recently returned from working the light show during a tour by The Who when he was offered the chance to cut trailers for Corman alongside his friend, future Gremlins director Joe Dante.

But what Arkush really wanted to do was direct, and he had an idea for a film that Corman liked – although Corman suggested it should contain disco, something that wasn’t music to Arkush’s ears.

Eventually, the fledgling film-maker got his own way, and the result is an anarchic, slightly bonkers and very energetic movie covering a few days in the life of several students who decide to rebel against their disciplinarian headteacher, Ms Togar.

“Impressive”

But what makes the film stand head and shoulders above the crowd is the presence of punk legends The Ramones. They can’t act for toffee, but they more than make up for that by belting out some amazing songs. In fact, the soundtrack is pretty impressive in itself – as well as Joey, Dee Dee and co, Devo, Paul McCartney and Alice Cooper, to name but a few, are also featured.

PJ Soles, who’s perhaps best known as a scream queen thanks to her roles in Halloween and Carrie, makes a likeable heroine, but it’s Mary Woronov who steals every scene as the formidable Togar, a woman all viewers will love to hate.

There’s a wealth of special features on the disc to enjoy too, including an in-depth documentary which is even more entertaining than the film itself.